§ Colin BurgonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring takes place to ensure that seasonal fruit pickers are not paid below the minimum wage. [175442]
§ Alun MichaelSeasonal fruit pickers are entitled to be paid at least the appropriate Agricultural Minimum Wage set by the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales, for each hour they work. Payment of the Agricultural Minimum Wage is enforced by Defra officials of behalf of the Secretary of State. Enforcement activity is complaint led and workers can register a complaint about their pay by telephoning the Defra Agricultural Wages Team on 0845 0000 134.
Pay rates in agriculture are surveyed on a sample basis through the Defra Earnings and Hours Survey. This survey is conducted on a quarterly basis and a summary of results is available on the Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk).